Apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material on a wire shaped element

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material on a wire shaped element and more particularly, but not exclusively for the lubrication of cables. Broadly, the apparatus comprises a solid ring shaped member having an inner and outer periphery. A network of closely spaced bristles are arranged about the inner periphery of the ring shaped member. The bristles extend radially inward and downward to form a funnel shape adapted to engagingly encompass the periphery of the wire shaped element. The apparatus also includes a conduit portion located above the network of closely spaced bristles. The conduit portion is provided with a passageway therethrough to provide communication between a source of fluid pasty material and the wire shaped element. The fluid pasty material is deliverable from the source, through the passageway and into the funnel shaped portion for uniform application on the periphery of the wire shaped element by the wiping action of the network of closely spaced bristles.

United States Patent [191 Ducatillon 45 1 July 16, 1974,

[ APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF A FLUID PASTY MATERIAL ON A WIRE SHAPED ELEMENT [75] Inventor: Jean Ducatillon, Willems Nord,

France [73] Assignee: Cato Oil & Grease Co., Oklahoma,

' Okla. [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 21 App]. No.: 343,896

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 174,615, Aug. 25, I971.

Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William G. Addison [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material on a wire shaped element and more particularly,

but not exclusively for the lubrication of cables. Broadly, the apparatus comprises a solid ring shaped member having an inner and outer periphery. A network of closely spaced bristles are arranged about the inner periphery of the ring shaped member. The bristles extend radially inward and downward to form a funnel shape adapted to engagingly encompass the periphery of the wire shaped element. The apparatus 'also includes a conduit portion located above the network of closely spaced bristles. The conduit portion is provided with a passageway therethrough to provide communication between a source of fluid pasty material and the wire shaped element. The fluid pasty material is deliverable from the'source, through the passageway and into the funnel shaped portion for uniform application on the periphery of the wire shaped element by the wiping action of the network of closely spaced bristles.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 1 61974 3, 2

sum 1 or 3 APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF A FLUID PASTY MATERIAL ON A WIRE SHAPED ELEMENT This is a continuation of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 174,615 filed Aug. 25, 1971 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that cables must be sufficiently greased about their surfaces to protectthem against the corrosive effect of the air, water and other external agents. Cables used in the navy particularly are exposed to the corrosive effect of salt air or sea water. The quantity of grease used, should be determined to avoid an excess of grease, particularly in applications where such an excess might get on other elements and eventually deteriorate them.

Heretofore, the application of grease on wire shaped elements has been accomplished utilizing a brush or a cloth or by immersion of the element into a container of grease. However, such methods do not insure a uniform application of grease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly the apparatus of the instant invention comprises a conduit member, a source of fluid pasty material and a means to deliver the fluid pasty material. The conduit member is adopted to conform to at least a portion of the periphery of the wire shaped element. The conduit member has a passageway therethrough to provide communication between the wire shaped element and the source of fluid pasty material. In another embodiment the conduit member has a funnel portion on one end thereof. The funnel portion has a wall and a top and bottom opening. The bottom opening is adapted to conform to the diameter of the wire shaped element. Preferably the bottom opening has substantially the same diameter as the wire shaped element. The wall of the funnel portion has at least one opening to form an orifice therethrough in communication with the passageway through the conduit member. A source of the fluid pasty material and a means for delivering the same are provided at the other end of the conduit member to maintain a body of the fluid pasty material in the funnel portion whereby, when the wire shaped element is passed through the funnel portion from the top through the bottom opening the fluid pasty material is applied upon the surface of the periphery of the wire shaped element. In a further embodiment of the invention, the funnel portion is formed of a sheet of elastic material rolled in the form of a funnel and having overlapping, un joined edges to permit passage therethrough of the wire shaped element. In still another embodiment, the conduit member is in the form of a ring and has a network of bristles arranged about the inside periphery of the ring to converge in a downward direction whereby they form a funnel. In still another embodiment of the invention, the conduit member comprises a ring, having an opening on one side to permit passage therethrough of the wire shaped element and the ring has a network of bristles arranged about the periphery of the ring to converge in a downward direction whereby the bristles form a funnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentv invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatusdepicted v in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an apparatus constructedin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

accordance with still another embodiment of the pres- I ent invention.

- FIG. 9 is a perpsective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference more particularly, to FIGS. I and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material to wire shaped element (1) .includes a conduit member designated generally by the reference numeral (2) adapted to conform to the surface of the wire shaped element at least locally when the application is to be done in several passes.

However, the application in one pass may be preferred and is readily accomplished with the apparatus represented in FIG. I where the conduit member adapts completely about the periphery of the wire shaped element. Preferably, the conduit member is constructed of a material having some elasticity in order to permit it to more readily adapt to the surface of the element to be treated. The interior of conduit member (2) is in communication with a fluid pasty materialand a means to deliver the same. (not shown).-

The' source of the fluid pasty material may be a cartridge of a lubricant of a known type such as, for. example, grease, oil and the like. The means for delivering the fluid pasty material may be an apparatus for automatic lubrication or any other system synchronized with the advance of the wire shaped element or even functioning in an intermittent fashion. Communication with the fluid pasty material is provided by intake conduit (3) of the conduit member. Intake conduit (3) is provided with a connector (4) to connect it with the source of fluid pasty material.

A fluid pasty material, such as for example, grease passes through the intake conduit (3) and is dispensed on the wire shaped element (1) through openings (5) located in the area of the conduit member adapted to conform to the wire shaped element or slightly outside this zone and preferrably towards the surface of the element to be greased. I

The conduit member may be in the form of'a spatula (FIG. 4) or may be constructed of two tubes, fastened together the shape of a tube formed like a question mark. However, in a preferred embodiment the conduit member is in the form of a tube wound in a spiral line with at least one single turn (FIG. 1). In the latter form of construction the use of a flexible tube will permit this device to fit wire shaped elements of different diameters.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conduit member may have an end portion formed by a sheet, (8) of relatively elastic material rolled to form a funnel. The funnel has a top and bottom opening. It is preferred that the bottom opening be about the same diameter as the wire shaped element. The funnel has at least one opening in the side to form an orifice (5) therethrough to provide communication with conduit member (2). Preferably the borders (9) and (10) of the sheet will not be attached to each other in order to permit, by the elastic deformation of the borders, the passage therethrough of a wire shaped element. The funnel (7) contains a body of the fluid pasty material which is to be deposited uniformly on the surface of the wire shaped element (1) as the funnel is displaced in the direction of the arrow F-l with respect to the cable in the direction of the arrow F-2.

In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the conduit member is in the form of a ring and a funnel (7) is formed by a network of bristles of abrush (11). As shown in FIG. 7 the ring may be made in several parts (2' and 2") in which the parts are openable to permit passage therethrough of the wire shaped ele-' ment (1) and after having permitted passage therethrough of the cable are closable to form a complete circle. The ring (2) may be made as a single part. However, in such case it is preferred that the ring does not form a complete circle so as to provide for an opening for the introduction of the cable (1'). In FIG. 8 the bristles are fixed to the ring (2) and converge downwardly towards the center (13) of the ring (2). In this latter embodiment the bristles, (11) have, by their disposition, the tendency to complete the closing of the circle (13). The ring (2) may be made from a tube as shown in FIG. 9. In such an embodiment, the bristles (11) form the funnel portion (7). In these latter three embodiments (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) the bristles act as a means for distributing the grease uniformly on the periphery of the wire shaped element. Further the flexibil-' 4 ity permits utilizing the apparatus for wire shaped elements of different diameters within certain limits.

Certain changes and modifications in the present invention can, obviously be made in its practice without departing substantially from its intended spirit and scope. As a consequence the invention is not intended to be limited or otherwise restricted to or by the convenient and preferred embodiments thereof with which the foregoing description and specification are illustrated. Rather, it is to be interpreted and construed in the light of what is set forth and defined in the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material on the'periphery of a wire shaped element comprising:

a solid ring shaped member having an inner and outer periphery and a network of closely spaced bristles arranged about the inside periphery of the ring shaped member each of the bristles habing one end attached to the ring shaped member and the other end extending radially inward and downward to form a funnel shape adapted to engagingly encompass the periphery of the wire shaped element and a conduit portion located above the network of closely spaced bristles, said conduit portion having a passageway therethrough to provide communication between a source of fliud pasty material and v the wire shaped element; whereby the fluid pasty material is deliverable from said source, through said passageway into the funnel shaped portion for application on the periphery of the wire shaped element. 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring has an opening on one side to permit passage therethrough of the wire shaped element.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring comprises at least two pieces, is openable to accept said wire shaped element and closable to enclose said wire shaped element.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Dated ly 16 1974 Patent No. 3, 823 797 Inventor(s) Jean Ducatillon or appears in the above-identified patent It is certified that err corrected as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby insert line 64, after "together",

Further the in a V shape (Fig. 3) conduit member may be in Column 2,

(SEAL) Attest: MCCOY M. GIBSON JR C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-\ 050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60375-P6 U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-366-33 

1. An apparatus for the application of a fluid pasty material on the periphery of a wire shaped element comprising: a solid ring shaped member having an inner and outer periphery and a network of closely spaced bristles arranged about the inside periphery of the ring shaped member each of the bristles habing one end attached to the ring shaped member and the other end extending radially inward and downward to form a funnel shape adapted to engagingly encompass the periphery of the wire shaped element and a conduit portion located above the network of closely spaced bristles, said conduit portion having a passageway therethrough to provide communication between a source of fliud pasty material and the wire shaped element; whereby the fluid pasty material is deliverable from said source, through said passageway into the funnel shaped portion for application on the periphery of the wire shaped element.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring has an opening on one side to permit passage therethrough of the wire shaped element.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring comprises at least two pieces, is openable to accept said wire shaped element and closable to enclose said wire shaped element. 